Do you get involved in issues or problems that matter to you as a Christian? Or, if you're honest, are you more normally like the priest and the Levite in the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10 v 25-37)? To put it another way—what actually is it that we fear as individuals and as Christians? Are we worried what others will think of us, do we worry what standing up or standing out might cost us, or do we fear that the Lord might not actually love us? These fears will sap our courage and becalm our lives.
And fear and courage were the themes of this year's Bristol Men's Convention. Led and focused by some brilliant talks from Mike Reeves and Rupert Bentley-Taylor, and backed up with Henry Olonga's testimony of standing up for what he believed in as a practical illustration of faith-fuelled courage, this was a day of great reassurance and encouragement.
So, why shouldn't we fear?
We have nothing to fear because… we are in the hands and the plans and the heart of the God of salvation.
… the Father loves the Son, and you can't keep up with how well Jesus knows you and loves YOU (John 10 v 22-39). Listen here to Rupert Bentley Taylor.
… we are safe before the Father in the Son. The Father loves us as he loves his Son. Our faith may be weak, but it is not our grasp of Christ that will save us but His hold on us (Romans 5: 12-21). Listen here to Mike Reeves.
... Jesus gives us courage to go and live for his glory. Those who are filled with Spirit of God are sons of God (Romans 8 v 12-17). Listen here to Mike Reeves.
Henry Olonga applied the theme by saying (to paraphrase): When you are struggling with something call on God's name. Don't keep it bottled up, Speak to the Lord. Cross the road to address the situation. Whatever issues or problems you face in your lives, churches, communities and in the world at large, front up to them, don't "pass by on the other side". After all, you have nothing to fear, the Lord your God is with you. Be men of courage, be churches of courage.
Great singing, time for reflection and questioning, great friendship and a day of marvelous reassurance that because God has us in his hand we can be men (and, of course, women!) of courage, with Nothing to Fear. Read and hear more from the Bristol Men's Convention here.